Ventilator canopy



July 9, 1929.

R. E. PEcK vEnTILATbR CANOPY Filed May 13. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 u M II II y 9 1929. R. E, PECK I 1,720,400

. vm TILAToR CANOPY Filed May 13. 1 9'26 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 attuned 1.

July 9, 1929. R. E, '55: 1,120.;00 VENTILATOR'CANOPY Fil ed May 13. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented July 9, 1929. 7

unites STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. PECK, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO PEGK, HANNAFDRI) 82; BECK COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, .A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

VENTILATOR CANOPY.

Application filed May 13, 1926.

My invention relates to canopies for covering or enclosing purposes, and is particularly directed to canopies adapted to remove vapors and fumes from a source thereof such as a laundry machine. The improvement is more particularly directed to an :LPPHL'zIl-US as a part ot the canopy for easily and quickly raising the sides of the canopy from their operative or vapor confining and venting position about the machine to a position clear o'l' the machine for permitting of access to the W0 rkin parts the root.

The invention applicable to a canopy especially adapted for use in conjunction with a laundry machine Oil the ill-at work ironer type, this canopy being described and claimcifl in applicants Patent No. 1,682,381. llhe structure disclosed in the applicants issued patent is designed to overcome the problems arising from the excess 0t heat and vapors which would otherwise be discharged into the air of the laundry work rooms, thus hindering the proper ventilation olisaid work rooms and rendering the air of and rooms unlit; tor the use of the operators, and also to overcomethe problem of condensation of the said vapors upon the walls and windows and the dripping); of water upon the ironing machinery and the work as it is fed through the machine.

Since the present invention is combined with a considerable portion 01 the mechanism oiappiicants patent it is believed a brief summarized statemel'lt oi the general structure will aid in umlerstanding the objects of the present invention. The canopy generally consists of a stationarytop either hung from the ceilin or supported on the machine itself, and sides or hood portion hung from the top and extending down tar enough to enclose the space above the machine. All heated and moisture laden air arising from the machine is trapped in the enclosed space and carried to the outside by means of a suction device mounted on the top. The sides are made transparent in order that the interior of the carumy and movin work pa ssing through the mechanism of the machine may be visible. -for detecting any trouble that might arise dur ing operation. In the event that trouble docs arise or that the mechanism of the machine requires attention the sides of: the canopy are made vertically movable in con nection with the top which remains stationary. and a device is provided for hoist:-

Serial No. 108,938.

ing and lowering the sides to provide access to the space above the machine and ordinarily enclosed by the said canopy. I

A canopy oi": sullicientdimensions to cover the larger size of machines for an elllcicnt trapping of theheated and moisture laden air arising from the machine is a heavy device and the movable sides are dil'licult to handle in the raising and havering operations. The present invention for this rea son discloses a novel structure for performing these operations mechanically by means of a power driven apparatus. i

Therefore, an object of this invention to provide a power driven hoisting device which has its power source in common with a suction device for drawing oil the trapped heated and nuns ure laden air within the canopy, the said hoisting device being mamially controlled tor selective operations in either a raisin or lowering movement oil? the sides or for an intermittent lllOVOlTlUlllJ thereof, and this movement being automatically limited.

liLHOlillQl. object isto provide a simple and ellicient mounting; of the sides about the sta tionary top and suitable connectiim between the hoisting apparatus and the sides, to provide for a smooth and imiiliorxn rai. inc; or lowering of the sides and to provide a hoistin apparatus compactly mounted on the stationary top.

Another object is to provide a stationary top for the canopy made up oi sections hun in a framework, the suction device and hoist;- ing apparatus mounted in a single section thus ihcilitating assembly of the canopy organization.

Another object is to provide a power hoist for a canopy which ismanually controlled from a point easily accessible to the operator and in which the power is transmitted from the'power source to a lead screw mechanism tor iinparting' a coniparativcly slow raising or lowering movement to the canopy sides, the movement under instant manual control atany point, and positively limited in either direction or movement.

Another object is to provide lighting lixtures tor illuminating; the interior of the canopy the fixtures being slidable into and supported at the base of vertical tubes formed within the top structure, and the fixtures being easily removable merely by sliding them upwardly from the tubes.

Other objects, features. and certain advanv standards 4 shown in dotted lines.

tages will be disclosed in the description of the drawings in which: V

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the canopy.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22, Figure 1, showing the suction device for drawing the vapors from the canopy, the power hoist device and hoist control mechanism.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33, Figure 1 further illustrating the hoisting apparatus and the lighting apparatus mounted in the top sections for illnn'iinating the interior of the canopy. V

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 1, detailing the metal structure of the top and sides and their relation when the sides are down for providing a closure.

Figure?) is a detail plan View of one of the corners of the canopy illustrating the mount ing of the hoisting cables at the corners and. the rollers engaging the corners of the side frame for maintaining the side frame in a proper relation to the top.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the canopy in posit-ion over a machine for exhausting the vapors therefrom and showing the hoist control ropes extending to the front of the machine.

y The top of the device comprises a main skeleton top frame consisting of the angle members 1 secured at their corners by angle pieces 2 to form a rectangular framework, this framework providing the main supporting frame for the various sections mounted thereon. The framework is shown supported on the machine 3 (see Fig. 6) by means of The framework may instead be hung from the ceiling but the former method is the more rigid. The various sections are seated and supported within the angles 1 and as illustrated there is a central section 5 carrying the hoisting and suction apparatus, sections 6 one at each side of the central section each carrying lighting means for the canopy, and the filler sections 7 at the ends made of proper widthto fill out the canopy length. It can readily be seen that the size of any of the sections is purely arbitrary and depends on the dimensions' of the machine to which the canopy is fitted. These sections and the framework make up the stationary top of the canopy from which the side or hood frame 8 is hung.

The hood frame comprises the sides 9 and the'ends '10 preferably fabricated of sheet metal and glass and presenting from the out side a ne'at'paneled box-like structure. The 7 sides and ends are secured together at the corners by means of angle irons 11 to form a rectangular structure open at the top and bottom and of slightly larger dimension in plan view than the rectangular top framework. This permits a telescoping of the hood frame and the stationary top with a slight clearance at all sides for permitting free movement of the hood frame thereon. The sides 9 and ends 10 of the hood fran are formed of two sheets of metal spaced slightly apart and lapped over at the corners and edges to form a hollow space between the sheets. This construction provides rigiditv and the hollow space serves as a dead air or insulating space. Openings 13 are provided in the sides and ends as windows, and window panes 14 are secured therein. Describing an upper portion of the side walls (see Figure 41), the outer sheet is bent to form a top wall 15 and side wall 16 and the lower end is t urned upon itself to receive the lower end '18 ot the inner sheet, and to form a flange 17. the inner sheet then being turned inward to form a space between the two sheets and forming the inner side wall 19 extending up to be secured to the under side of the top wall 15. The window glass edge is secured against. this flange 17 by means of metallic strips 21 suitably secured to the flange. Secured to the tops 15 of the hood walls are hook-like flanges 32 which extend around the entire upper edge of the frame and overhang the upper edge of the angle 1 of the framework as a closure and support means when the hood frame is lowered into operative position.

In order that the hood frame may be spaced evenly from the frame work of the top, and that it may move with less friction thereon. roller devices 23 (see Fig. are provided at each corner of the canopy. The roller devices 23 consist of studs 2+1-secured in the colner angles 2 of the top frame work and extending outward therefrom to bisect the corner angles 11 of the hood 'lrame at their inner side. The studs have forked ends 25 carrying rollers 26 vertically mounted for contacting or bearing against the bisected eorners of the angles 11. Nuts 27 are provided engaging the threaded inner ends of the studs at opposite sides of the angle for :uljuslably mounting the roller devices 25 to secure an equal spacing between top frame and hood frame at all sides of the canopy.

The stationary top and hood frame together form a rectangular structure open at the bottom, the bottom serving as the intake opening for the canopy when mounted over the machine. The top is mounted on the before mentioned standards *1, a sullicicnt distance to provide for access to the mechanism of the machine being vented when the sides are drawn up. The sides of the hood frame when. in their lower position extend to the machine, and the bottoms thereof may be fitted to the exact shape of the machine frame. The circulation for the ventilating system is through the feed and discharge ends 28. 29. respectively of the machine from which the vapors are being exhausted.

The discharge duct for the vapors is through the top and the suction element for Nil Slll

lllfi llll lilt) ill iii.

a ii

creating the Vapor exhausting circulation is inserted in the vent. The central section 5 having thus mechanism mounted therein, is rectangular andv box-like in outline, and is formed of metal sheets suitably secured together. An opening is provided in the top 31 of this section and at one end, and a plate 32 is secured thereover, Secured to the upper side of this base plate 32 is an electric motor having a shaft 34: which extends through the plate and has the fan 35 hung thereon on the inside of the section.

The discharge duct has its opening 36 from the floor 37 of the section. A funnel shaped element 38 surrounds the opening 36 and extends upwardly to constrict the vapor passage in order to direct the vapor into the blades of the fan. The duct is made up of vertical walls 39 encirclingthe fan and secured to the floor and top of the section. The vertical walls 39 (see Fig. 1) are built close to the fan at one side and made to flare out at the other side in the direction. of fan rotation, that is to say, the duct wall surrounding the fan is circular in plan view but not concentric with the fan shaft center. Tlhe fan rotation for the particular structure is anti-clocltwisi as viewed in top plan. view. The flaring wall providesa vapor discharge or release space at the side of the fan, this passage men' 1g into a channel. 40 extending longitudinally of the section and curving upward to form a square vertical casing ll extemling through the top oi? the section. The channel walls and section body are secured. together by any suitable fastening 1110211154.

in the type of fan shown, the suction which draws the vapors through the opening 36 into the fan, is created. by therapid discharge of vapor from the tan interior due to the speed of rotation, this air being discharged horiaontally through the channel. 4-1) and then upwards through the vertical casing (as indicated by the arrows .in Fi 2). Pipe sections 42 are secured to the vertical casing ll to form a discharge line to the outside air.

The motor used. herein is designed for verticalsnse and has a broad supporting base which as stated before rigidly secured to the base plate 32. The motor shaft 34: eX- tcnds through the hub at top of the motor. The drivefor the hoisting apparatus is taltcn from the upper end of themotor shaft and constitutes mechanism adapted to be engaged with this rotating fan driving shaft 34:. Since the ventilating mechanism is in operation at all times during the use of the machine from which the vapors are being exluiusted, the operators of the machine have a power hoist which can be started merely by a simple manual shift, which connects this motor shaft to the hoisting mechanism (hereii'iafter described) The n'ieelninisinfor transn'iitting this motorpower to the sides for at raising or lowering operation embodies means which automatically limits the amount of movement, preventing any misuse of the hoist and provides an even pull at each corner of the sides or hood portion of the canopy, so that there is no twisting of the hood frame.

A bracket 413 is secured to the hub tl at the top of the motor by means of screws, and the shaft 34 extends through this bracket. Keyed to the extending portion of the shaft 34 is a friction clutch element 41-5, having a beveled upper face 45. A horizzzontal shaft 46 is rotatably and slid ably mounted in bearings -17 secured to the bracket 41-3, there being two of these hearings, one at each side of the motor shaft and equally spaced therefrom. The bracket 43 has the arms it; extending upwardly and the horizontal end portions ll.) on which the bearings at? are secured.

Secured to the shaft 4:6 so as to impart motion thereto, are two :lriction clutch members 50 as com ninion members to the driving member 45. Bevel edges are providl-ul on the clutch members 50, these edges being opposingly related and facing inwardly toward the driving clutch member 45 and adapted to be altcrnativeiy frietionally engaged or disengaged from the bevel. edge ilt) of the driving member. The clutch members are made up of metal portions and rubber composition portions, the bevels being formed of the rubbercomposition. for creatiiu greater friction and a more positive grip on the bevel edge .45 ot the driving member when can gaged therewith.

The shaft 4th translatable in its bearings and clearance is provided between the (dutch members 50 and the bearings 47. The clutch members 50 are suiliciently spaced apart to permit discmgagemcnt of the members from the driving clutch member when the shaft translated for a clutch control. ()n the outer end of the shaft and beyond the bearing thereof, shift collars are secured and. spaced apart, the end of a pivot shift lever 53 being inserted between the collars. A. pivot ln-acltet 54, extends out from the main bracket 4i? and to this the lever 53 is 'l'ulcrumed. The shift lever extends downwardly and ispivotally secured to an autonniticallyor manually shifted rod 55 mounted on thetop of the section. 'lrzmslation of this lower shift rod produces translation of the upper power shaft 46 and the desired clutching and unclntching operations.

A pulley-56 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft 4-6 an d conveys the drive by means of a belt 57 down 'ardly to a pulley 58 secured on the end of a lead screw 59. The pulley 56 is provided with a wider face than the belt widtlrto allow for the shifting of the belt thereon when the shaft 4-6 translated. The lead screw extends horizontally across the section and mounted in bearings on a frame (30.

l TO

The shift rod is translatably mounted in the frame parallel to and at the side of the lead screw 59. A slide block 61 engages the threads of the lead screw and is translated by means of the rotation of the lead screw. The blockis slidably mounted on the longitudinal bearing surfaces 62 of the frame (30. The contact of the lower edges of the block with the bearing surfaces 62 prevents rotation of the block with. the lead screw, this imparting the translating movement to the block.

A pair of hoisting cables 63, 64:, for raising the hood frame are secured to the slide block Gland engage over respective pulleys 65, 66, secured on the edge of the section. The cables turn on the pulleys and extend downwardly at the end of the section or at the side of the entire top structure and engage about the respective pulleys 67, 68, secured on the section supporting web of the side angles 1 From these pulleys 67 and G8 the cables extend in opposite directions, that is, toward the ends of the top structure and along the side angles 1.

The various sections at the top are of such length as to rest somewhat on the edges of the angles and to leave a space 69 around all sides of the sections. That is to say, the outer ends and sides of the various sections are of sufficient dimension to extend over the supporting web of the angles 1 a sufficient distance for support, this leaving the before mentioned space 69. The space between the sections and the upwardly extending web of the side angles provides a clearance space for the n'iounting of the cables and the pulleys incident to the directing of the cables.

Inasmuch as the manner of directing the 7 cables to their connection on the hood frame is identical for either end of the canopy, the description thereof will be confined to the structure at one end only. The cable 63 eX- tends longitudinally of the top and along the inside of the angle 1 and is secured to an equalizer plate 70. Hoisting cables 71, 72,

. is secured to a cross piece 7 5 fastened in the corner of the hood frame and at the base thereof. The other cable 72 is turned in a horizontal plane at the corner in which the pulley 73 is located by means of its engagement with the pulley76 secured to the side of the end angle 1. The cable 72 then extends through the end space 69 to a pulley 7 7 and is connected to the hood frame at the adjacent corner in the same manner as the cable 71 is secured to its respective hood frame corner. Thus from a common source of motion, namely, the slide block, pull is transmitted equally and vertically to all four corners of the hood frame.

A manual control is provided for the hoist.- ing apparatus and has its connection to the mechanism previously described in the following manner:

Intermediate of the fulcrum point of the lever 53 and its connection to the shift rod 55 there is secured an end 80 of the connccting lever 81. The lever 81 extends downwardly and has its lower end fastened to a shift lever 8 at a point intermediate the ends of the lever 81". The lever 81 is pivoted at one end to the lead screw frame (10 and has its movable end 82 extended horizontally across the section.

A pair of cables 83, 84, are attached to the free end of the shift rod. The cable 83 extends about a pulley 85 secured on the section top and upwardly to the ceiling 86. (See Fig. (5.) Here the cable 84 is run through a pulley S7 and depends therefrom. The other cable 83 extends in an opposite direction from the first and then about a pulley 88 and back to a pulley 89, at the side of pulley 85 thence upwardly and over another pulley on the ceiling in the same manner as the first cable. The cables depend downwardly to a point easily accessible to the operator of the machine being vented, preferably at the feeding end and have rings attached to their respective ends. This arrangement provides for a controlling movement of the shift lever 81 in either direction.

Automatic control. of the power operation of the hoist is provided for operation independent of the manual control. .l)ogs, respectively termed upper limit dog 90 and lower limit dog 91 are secured on the shift rod and have lugs thereon extemling toward the lead screw and into the path of the slide block 61. The dogs are placed on the shift rodtoward the ends thereof so that the slide block actuates the shift rod, by contacting these dogs after it has traversed approximately the length of the lead screw in either direction.

It is readily apparent that these dogs can be set at the exact position for automatically disengaging the friction members at the proper moment, that is, when the hood frame is sufiiciently raised or lowered.

In order that the purpose of the particular structure will be made clear, a complete hoisting operation will be explained. The canopy as illustrated in the drawings is in its lowered or ventilative position and remains thus during the operation of the machine being vented. V hen the operator desires access to the rolls of the flat work ironcr or to any of the mechanism thereof, he pulls the control rope 84 for a power raising of the hood frame. This swings the shift lever 81 and the motion is imparted to the lever 53 through, connecting lever 81. The moviement of the lever 53 translates the shift rod 55 and thus moves the upper limit dog 90 thereon into position for actuation by the slide block. Movement is also imparted to the power shaft 46 through the shift collars 52, this engaging the proper clutch member 50 with the driving clutch member 45 for a driving motion of the shaft 46. This motion is transmitted to the lead screw 59 by the belt 57 whereupon the slide block is drawn towards the pulley end of the lead screw, this drawing the hoisting cables and raising the hood frame.

As the slide block 61 traverses the frame it strikes the dog 90 and translates the rod 55 sulliciently to impart a clutch disengaging or neutralizing movement to the power shaft 46. immediately upon this action the block stops and the hood frame is at its upper limit and is in a position shown in dot-anthdash lines, Figure 6.

For a lowering of the hood the operator pulls the control cable 83 and the motions of the various levers are thereupon in a reverse direction from that in the described raising operation, the cutting out of the power taking place when. the slide block contact-s the lower limit dog 91, (see Fig. 1). The lower limit dog is arranged to cut out the lowering power motion slightly after or simulaneously with the contacting of the flanges 22 of the hood frame with the upper edge of the angle members l of the top frame. This makes a tight closure with no chance for vapors to escape between the top and hood frame.

The sections 6 are fabricated of lnetal to the fOIll'l of a rectangular box-like structureof the same length as the central section 5 and of a sullicient height and width to house the lighting fixtures 93. As shown, there are two of the fixtures 93 in each section. Vertical tubes 9st are inserted in the sections, these tubes being open at both ends and secured by flanges in apertures in the top and bottom of the sections. The flanges 95 at the lower ends of the tubes are turned inward to form circular ledges for the support of the circular lighting fixtures. Any type of lighting lixtnre may be used so that it has a sufficiently large reflecting body to spread the light throughout the canopy interior, the tubes be ing made of the proper diameter to snugly house the fixtures therein.

The filler sections 7 are the same height and length as the sections 6 but their width is varied to fill out the top length of the pain ticular canopy. The sections 7 are also reetangular in shape and fabricated of metal. The tops thereof are formed of corrugated metal 96 to provide strength to the sections so that they will not collapse in the event that considerable weight is put upon them. The various sections can be secured to the angle members by any suitable means.

The entire canopy top organization is thus built up of units each serving a respective purpose and the central section completely containing the hoist and suction apparatus. Ease in setting up and rigidity in the finished product are thus advantages of a structure which is positive in operation and has distinct merit in its practical connnercial utility. It is intended that the covering device herein disclosed illustrates only one use to which the apparatus can be adapted. ll henever there is covering to be done whether the purpose is to draw off fumes, vapors, etc., or to provide a sealed closure for housing objects during processes where an enclosure of this nature is desirable, the device is readily adaptable since it provides for ease in the reunoval of the cover from about the thing enclosed.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A hoisting mechanism, comprising, a rectangular frame, a platform surroumled by said frame, said frame telescoping on said Matl'txrm, a. power source, a slideblock, a bearing frame having longitudinal slideways for said slide block, a screw journalled in said frame parallel to the slideways, a power control lever, a power control rod slidably journalled in said frame parallel to said slideways and connected to said power control lever, stops provided at opposite ends of said rod and alternately engageable by the block in its movement along the slideways, and cables connecting the block and the respective corners of the rectangular fran'ie, whereby the frame is raised. and lowered by movement of the block.

2. In a mechanism for hoisting, a plat form, a rectangular frame telescopically mounted on said platform, a feed screw journalled on said platform, a power source for driving said screw, a block traversed by said. screw, cables connected to the block and to the corners of the rectangular frame, a clutch between said power source and said lead screw, a clutch control lever, and a trip rod connected to said control lever, said trip rod. having portions engageable by said block at the upper and lower limits of movement of said frame whereby the clutch is automati ca-lly disengaged.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

ROBT. E. PECK. 

